Getting started with OpenClaw made super easy

Ready to dive into OpenClaw? You do not need any technical skills for getting started with OpenClaw. You can follow this step-by-step guide and feel confident every step of the way. Here is how you can launch OpenClaw for the first time:

1. Check your system to make sure it meets the requirements.

2. Run a simple installer command in your terminal.

3. Follow the onboarding wizard.

4. Use the health check to confirm everything works.

5. Open the web dashboard and start exploring.

You will feel at home right away, and if you ever get stuck, helpful resources are always nearby.

Key Takeaways

• Check what your computer needs before you install. Make sure you have Node.js 22 or higher. You need at least 2 GB of RAM. You also need 20 GB of free space on your hard drive. This will help everything run well.

• Make an OpenRouter account and go to myclaw.ai. This step is important for linking OpenClaw to the right services. It also helps you manage your setup.

• Use the onboarding wizard when you install. The wizard makes setup easier. It guides you through the steps you need. You do not have to change things by yourself.

• Run the 'openclaw doctor' command to check your installation. This tool finds problems and helps you fix them fast.

• Look at the OpenClaw dashboard after you finish installing. Change your settings and connect to different apps. This will help your AI work better.

Getting started with OpenClaw: Prerequisites

Before you jump into getting started with openclaw, you need to make sure your computer is ready. This part covers everything you need for a smooth setup. You do not need to worry about technical details. Just follow these steps, and you will be ready for installation in no time.

System Requirements

You want your openclaw experience to be smooth and fast. Here is what your computer should have:

• Node.js version 22 or higher.

• At least 2 GB of RAM. If you use a VPS, 4 GB is better. For the best experience, 8 GB of RAM works great.

• Around 20 GB of free disk space. The installation itself only takes about 500 MB, but you might need more space if you plan to use local embedding models or store logs.

• If your computer has less than 2 GB of RAM, set up a 4 GB swap file to help things run better.

💡 Tip: If you use a Mac or Linux, you can install openclaw natively. Windows users should use WSL2 for the best results.

Create an OpenRouter Account

You need an OpenRouter account to connect openclaw to the right services. Signing up is quick and easy. Just provide your email and set a password. Once you have your account, keep your login details handy. You will need them during setup.

Prepare myclaw.ai Access

You also need access to myclaw.ai. This is where you will control and monitor openclaw. Make sure you can log in to your myclaw.ai dashboard. If you do not have an account yet, you can create one in a few minutes. After you log in, you are ready for the next steps.

Getting started with openclaw is simple when you check these things first. Once you finish these steps, you can move on to the installation and start exploring all the features.

## Download & Install OpenClaw

You are almost ready to experience the power of openclaw. This part will walk you through the openclaw install process, whether you use a Mac or Windows computer. You do not need to worry about complicated steps. Just follow along, and you will have everything running in a few minutes.

Open Terminal or Command Prompt

First, you need to open your terminal. On a Mac, you can find the Terminal app in your Applications folder under Utilities. On Windows, you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) for the best results. Open your WSL2 terminal from the Start menu.

Now, check if your computer has the right version of Node.js. Type this command and press Enter:

node --version

You need version 22 or higher. If you see an older version or get an error, the installer will try to set up Node.js for you. If you want to do it yourself, you can use a version manager like nvm.

Tip: If you run into errors about missing build tools, Mac users can run xcode-select --install in the terminal. This command installs the tools you need. Windows users should stick with WSL2 to avoid these issues.

Run the Onboarding Wizard

You are ready to install openclaw. Use this command to download and start the installer:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

This command checks your system and installs everything you need. When the installation finishes, you will see instructions to start the onboarding wizard. Type this command next:

openclaw onboard

The onboarding wizard will guide you through the first setup. It will ask for your LLM provider, API key, and which messaging platform you want to connect. You do not need to edit any files by hand. The wizard creates all the environment variables for you. Most people finish this step in about five minutes.

🛠️ Note: If you see errors like "command not found" after installation, you may need to add npm’s global bin directory to your PATH. If you get permission errors, fix your npm directory ownership and try again without using sudo.

Verify Gateway Status

After you finish the onboarding wizard, you want to make sure openclaw is running smoothly. You can check the gateway status in a few ways.

• Run this command to check your setup:

  openclaw doctor
  
  

  This tool looks for problems and tells you if anything needs fixing.

• To see if the gateway is active, use:

  openclaw gateway status
  
  

  You should see a message that says the gateway is running.

• You can also check for running processes:

  ps aux | grep -E "openclaw|moltbot|gateway"
  
  

• If you want to check which ports are open, try:

  lsof -i :18789
  
  

When everything works, you will see the gateway marked as running. If you ever need to dig deeper, you can write a thread dump to your log file with this command:

kill -SIGUSR1 $(pgrep -f "openclaw gateway")

This command helps you or support staff find any hidden issues.

If you see any configuration errors, run:

openclaw doctor --fix

This command tries to repair common problems automatically.

You have now completed the openclaw install process. Your installation should be ready, and you can move on to the dashboard and start using openclaw right away.

First Setup & Control UI

Access the Dashboard

You have finished the installation, so now it is time to see your openclaw dashboard in action. You do not need to set up anything extra. Just log in to your openclaw instance on myclaw.ai. The system takes care of updates, security, and scaling for you. Once you are in, you will see the Control UI. This is where you manage everything. You can:

• Log in directly to your openclaw dashboard.

• Skip any extra configuration steps.

• Let the system handle updates and security.

Set Preferences

Now, let’s walk through your initial setup. The dashboard gives you a simple way to adjust your preferences. You can manage skills, add communication channels, and review how your bot is being used. Skills add new abilities to your AI, and plugins help you connect to more platforms. For your first setup, check these important settings:

• Set the server host to 0.0.0.0.

• Use port 8080.

• Choose the AI model, like llama2-7b.

• Set the maximum tokens to 2048.

• Adjust the AI temperature to 0.7.

• Enable Telegram and enter your bot token.

• Leave Discord disabled for now.

You can always change these settings later if you want to try new features.

Launch OpenClaw

Ready to launch openclaw? Just follow these steps:

1. Open the openclaw CLI app from your computer.

2. Enter the command to get your dashboard credentials.

3. Find the dashboard URL in your terminal.

4. Copy the token at the end of the URL.

5. Open the Control UI and go to the Overview page.

6. In the Gateway Access panel, enter your token and the default session key.

7. Click Connect.

8. If you see a pairing message, approve the device in your CLI.

9. Return to the Control UI after approval.

To make sure everything works, run openclaw doctor. This checks your system health and can fix common problems. You can also use openclaw security audit to check your setup and fix issues. If you see a success message, your openclaw is running and ready to use!

Troubleshooting & Next Steps

Common Issues & Fixes

Sometimes, you might run into small problems when getting started with openclaw. Don’t worry! Most issues have quick fixes. Here are some common problems and what you can do:

• If you see a message about the Node.js version, check your version. OpenClaw needs Node.js 22 or higher. Update Node.js if you have an older version, then reinstall OpenClaw.

• If you get a “permission denied” error during installation, npm might be trying to write to a system folder. Set npm to use your user directory instead. This usually solves the problem.

• If you see a message about a missing config file, the onboarding wizard may not have finished. Run the onboarding wizard again or make the config folder yourself.

💡 Tip: Running openclaw doctor can help you spot and fix most setup issues fast.

Find Help on myclaw.ai

You never have to figure things out alone. The myclaw.ai platform gives you lots of helpful resources:

• A hosting guide that shows you how to run OpenClaw smoothly.

• A quick setup guide made for beginners.

• An FAQ section that answers common questions, like how to add plugins or fix errors.

You can also watch video tutorials or read community guides. Many users say the YouTube walkthroughs make setup much easier. The Reddit guides share real user tips and feedback, which can help you understand each step better.

Explore Features & Community

Once you finish getting started with openclaw, you can try out some cool features. OpenClaw lets you connect to apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Slack. You can send commands from your favorite chat app. You can also let OpenClaw run shell commands, manage files, and even check your calendar or email for you. It remembers your settings and can alert you about important things.

The myclaw.ai community is very active. People share tips and answer questions on LinkedIn and Reddit. You can join the conversation, ask for help, or share your own ideas. This makes learning and using OpenClaw even more fun.

You just learned how to set up OpenClaw on myclaw.ai in a few easy steps. Now you can explore new features and see what your AI can do. If you ever need help, you get 24/7 support, safe and private environments, and secure skill execution.

Remember, the myclaw.ai community is always there for you. Jump in and start building with confidence!

FAQ

How long does it take to set up OpenClaw?

You can finish the setup in about 10 minutes. The onboarding wizard guides you step by step. Most users get everything running on the first try.

What if I forget my dashboard password?

No worries! You can reset your password from the login screen. Just follow the prompts. If you need more help, check the support section on myclaw.ai.

Can I use OpenClaw on my phone?

You can manage OpenClaw from your phone’s browser. The dashboard works on mobile. For setup and advanced features, you need a computer.

Do I need to know how to code?

No coding skills needed! The onboarding wizard and dashboard handle everything for you. You just follow the instructions and click through the menus.

What should I do if something goes wrong?

First, run openclaw doctor in your terminal. This tool checks for problems and suggests fixes. If you still need help, reach out to the myclaw.ai community.